In a speech to the National Assembly, Trump said: “Today, I hope I speak not only for our countries, but for all civilized nations, when I say to the North: Do not underestimate us. And do not try us.”

In a stern, direct message to Kim, he said: “The weapons you are acquiring are not making you safer.

“They are putting your regime in grave danger. Every step you take down this dark path increases the peril you face.”

North Korea’s propaganda-filled newspaper Rodong Sinmun responded to Trump’s explosive speech by branding the US President “shameless”.

“The present grave situation once again clearly shows that Trump’s mad remarks of “total destruction” and “annihilation” of the DPRK have resulted in military gambling,” the paper wrote.

“I want to just say that President Xi – where we will be tomorrow, China – has been very helpful. We’ll find out how helpful soon,” Trump said Tuesday night in Seoul.

“But he really has been very, very helpful. So China is out trying very hard to solve the problem with North Korea.”

The White House is banking on Trump’s personal rapport with Xi to drive the negotiations.

Trump has frequently showered praise on Xi, who recently became the nation’s most powerful leader in decades, including with a trip to Trump’s Florida estate for a summit.

“He’s a powerful man. I happen to think he’s a very good person. Now with that being said, he represents China, I represent the U.S.A., so, you know, there’s going to always be conflict,” Trump recently told the Fox Business Network.

“People say we have the best relationship of any president-president, because he’s called president also. Now some people might call him the king of China. But he’s called president.”

MOST READ IN NEWS

canal horror

Man charged with raping Glasgow mum on the day she was found dead beside canal